Systems & Propulsion

Rocker Switches, Pin-Stop Lead Cars, FendFast

One of the good names in marine electrical equipment is Cole Hersee, maker of switches. Boat owners are probably most familiar with its line...

Small Batteries, Chargers, and How To Recharge on Board

You can recharge household batteries with your 12-volt system via an inverter. We test nine chargers and a brace of batteries.

Corroded Whale Gusher 10 Pump

A photo in a report on manual bilge pumps (in the April 15, 2000 issue) showed a Whale Gusher 10 that a reader had...

Deka Deep-Cycle Battery Performs…

Following our August 1, 1999 discharge tests of batteries from Exide, Interstate, GNB, Rolls and West Marine, a number of readers asked for a...

Keeping Your Cool With A/C

Part 2—What’s new with refrigerants and controls.

Deka Deep-Cycle Battery Performs…

Following our August 1, 1999 discharge tests of batteries from Exide, Interstate, GNB, Rolls and West Marine, a number of readers asked for a...

Tillerpilots: Raytheon vs. Simrad

Of four models tested, the Simrad TP10 lags behind the others, while the TP30 outpoints the Autohelm ST2000.û

Keep Your Cool With A/C

Part 1—How marine air-conditioning systems work and what to look for when shopping for one.

Whistles: Fox Is Best

When it comes to survival at sea, the more tools you have at your disposal, the better. And that includes, in addition to high-tech...

Bolder and Statpower Battery Packs

In the October 15, 1999 issue we reported on battery packs. The newest version of sealed technology releases its charge rapidly, without wasting energy as internal heat.

This “Bulletproof” Cruiser Has a Serious Weak Spot Caliber 40 LRC...

If you’re shopping for a serious cruising sailboat, the Caliber 40 LRC is often described as “bulletproof.” Heavy displacement, huge tankage, conservative construction, and...

Latest Sailboat Review

Union 36 Used Boat Review

While not the best boat for light-air sailing, the Union 36 is a good sailboat for the bluewater cruiser. It wont get you there fast, but it will get you there comfortably and in one piece. The boats teak decks and lavish use of interior wood is attractive but requires much upkeep and maintenance. A product of the Taiwan-U.S. boatbuilding industry, the Union 36 is a heavy-displacement, full-keel, cutter-rigged double-ender designed for ocean sailing. The Union 36 is nearly identical to several other boats built during the same period: the Hans Christian 36, Mariner Polaris 36, and the EO36. According to well-known naval architect Bob Perry, the Union 36 and its cousins are all based on the design of a 34-footer that Perry was commissioned to create back in the early 70s.